Air pollution: South Coast Air Quality Management District: mobile sources: public seaports.

Senator Richardson's legislation establishes new parameters for air quality regulations at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, requiring comprehensive impact assessments while preserving operational flexibility. The bill mandates that any South Coast Air Quality Management District actions affecting port operations must include evaluations of energy demands, costs, funding sources, workforce impacts, and environmental effects.

The legislation prohibits several regulatory approaches, including cargo throughput caps, operational limitations, and the use of public funds to promote automated equipment. Instead, it allows for the adoption of human-operated zero-emission equipment and supporting infrastructure. Ports may request timeline extensions for meeting emission targets based on their assessment findings.

These provisions apply until January 2036 and reflect a shift toward collaborative environmental planning between ports, regulators, and stakeholders. The bill maintains existing state and federal authority over mobile pollution sources while adding new requirements for local air quality actions affecting seaport operations.